kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
The Favorite Daughter by Patti Callahan Henry is a bittersweet novel of healing and forgiveness.
Ten years earlier, Colleen "Lena" Donohue's life is shattered on what should have been the happiest day of her life. Instead of marrying the man of her dreams, she flees from heartbreak and betrayal. After starting over in New York, Colleen is now a successful travel writer who rarely goes home to visit her family. But after a shocking phone call from her younger brother Shane about their beloved father, Gavin, she returns to South Carolina. Forced to face her father's heart wrenching diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's, Colleen must also navigate her painful relationship with her younger sister, Hallie. Working on a memory book to help their father revisit his memories, Hallie and Colleen uncover a troubling discrepancy in the timeline of his trip to Ireland and the purchase of their pub in South Carolina. Are people mis-remembering when key events occurred? And wiill this enforced togetherness help Colleen forgive Hallie?
Colleen has spent the past ten years trying to move on from her heartache but these long ago events have left her with deep-seated trust issues. Although she does date, she has never had a serious relationship nor does she want one. Colleen's visits home have been scarce and with meticulous planning, she has avoided seeing Hallie. But with her father's diagnosis, the three siblings have no choice but to pull together for his sake. Will Colleen capitulate when everyone encourages her to let bygones be bygones? Or are there some betrayals that are too painful to forgive?
Gavin is much loved in their small community and his pub is a popular gathering place. Initially in denial about his diagnosis, he is eventually forced to accept that his precious memories are slipping away. Now that Colleen is in town, he is a little more forceful in his attempts to convince her to make peace with Hallie. But is it too late for his daughters to regain their once close relationship?
The Favorite Daughter is a captivating novel that is poignant yet heartwarming. The characters are richly developed with all too human foibles. The storyline tugs on the heartstrings as Colleen, Hallie and Shane must face the heartbreaking truth about their father's diagnosis. Patti Callahan Henry brings the novel to a moving conclusion that is quite gratifying. Readers of the genre are sure to enjoy this beautifully written, family-centric story.
The Favorite Daughter by Patti Callahan Henry is a bittersweet novel of healing and forgiveness.
Ten years earlier, Colleen "Lena" Donohue's life is shattered on what should have been the happiest day of her life. Instead of marrying the man of her dreams, she flees from heartbreak and betrayal. After starting over in New York, Colleen is now a successful travel writer who rarely goes home to visit her family. But after a shocking phone call from her younger brother Shane about their beloved father, Gavin, she returns to South Carolina. Forced to face her father's heart wrenching diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's, Colleen must also navigate her painful relationship with her younger sister, Hallie. Working on a memory book to help their father revisit his memories, Hallie and Colleen uncover a troubling discrepancy in the timeline of his trip to Ireland and the purchase of their pub in South Carolina. Are people mis-remembering when key events occurred? And wiill this enforced togetherness help Colleen forgive Hallie?
Colleen has spent the past ten years trying to move on from her heartache but these long ago events have left her with deep-seated trust issues. Although she does date, she has never had a serious relationship nor does she want one. Colleen's visits home have been scarce and with meticulous planning, she has avoided seeing Hallie. But with her father's diagnosis, the three siblings have no choice but to pull together for his sake. Will Colleen capitulate when everyone encourages her to let bygones be bygones? Or are there some betrayals that are too painful to forgive?
Gavin is much loved in their small community and his pub is a popular gathering place. Initially in denial about his diagnosis, he is eventually forced to accept that his precious memories are slipping away. Now that Colleen is in town, he is a little more forceful in his attempts to convince her to make peace with Hallie. But is it too late for his daughters to regain their once close relationship?
The Favorite Daughter is a captivating novel that is poignant yet heartwarming. The characters are richly developed with all too human foibles. The storyline tugs on the heartstrings as Colleen, Hallie and Shane must face the heartbreaking truth about their father's diagnosis. Patti Callahan Henry brings the novel to a moving conclusion that is quite gratifying. Readers of the genre are sure to enjoy this beautifully written, family-centric story.
dana_reads_books's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
booklover1974's review against another edition
5.0
Such a beautiful book! It's a heartbreaking story which is also filled with forgiveness, love and hope. I cried several times because it touched me in a very personal way.
I will read this author again!
I will read this author again!
lisaeirene's review against another edition
3.0
I'd round up to 3.5 stars. I had a hard time connecting with the story and the characters in the beginning but by about 40% I liked the book more. I liked the ending a lot.
tbsims's review against another edition
1.0
first half perfectly fine but then a too pat-resolution.
I would have preferred - a tragic start and a realistic resolution.
Rather than oh, she finds love, she physically faced-up-to (assaults) her villain; instead of her sister being half to blame for the tragedy, the villain is wholly at-fault...
I would have preferred - a tragic start and a realistic resolution.
Rather than oh, she finds love, she physically faced-up-to (assaults) her villain; instead of her sister being half to blame for the tragedy, the villain is wholly at-fault...
lolalu's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jhahn's review against another edition
3.0
It felt like this book had so much potential but I found myself struggling to get through the first half. The second half was better, but I didn't feel like I cared about the characters as much as I should have.
inliterarylove's review against another edition
4.0
There's just a comfort zone you slip into with southern fiction. You start to smell the pluff mud and feel the pull of the water. The Favorite Daughter pulled me in quick and I devoured this over only a day during my vacation.
A sister jilted on her wedding day, Lena flees to NYC and beyond to escape Watersend and live her best life. She has barely been home in 10 years, but- it's time. Her dad's not doing so well and Lena's brother Shane is finally asking for help. Coming come means facing Hallie and you can feel the tension as you read. The relationships between siblings are well built and you really get attached to dad. The Donohue clan will find a place in your heart, guaranteed.
While I predicted correctly what would happen, that often is the case with me, so it did not take away from the book. I enjoyed the ride and very much enjoyed the last couple of chapters. I felt one relationship was wrapped up rather quickly, but it's an old tale, what else can you say? The guy was a douche canoe anyway.
Another piece of southern comfort (you'll get what I did there when you read the book, wink wink) from PCH. Add it to your summer's TBR.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.
A sister jilted on her wedding day, Lena flees to NYC and beyond to escape Watersend and live her best life. She has barely been home in 10 years, but- it's time. Her dad's not doing so well and Lena's brother Shane is finally asking for help. Coming come means facing Hallie and you can feel the tension as you read. The relationships between siblings are well built and you really get attached to dad. The Donohue clan will find a place in your heart, guaranteed.
While I predicted correctly what would happen, that often is the case with me, so it did not take away from the book. I enjoyed the ride and very much enjoyed the last couple of chapters. I felt one relationship was wrapped up rather quickly, but it's an old tale, what else can you say? The guy was a douche canoe anyway.
Another piece of southern comfort (you'll get what I did there when you read the book, wink wink) from PCH. Add it to your summer's TBR.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.